Greetings!
Welcome to Duluth Forest Kinderhaus - where education and nature come together to create meaningful learning.
Our mission is to provide resources that create pathways to early childhood nature-based learning. We believe that all young children should have access to play and authentic inquiry in nature. Allowing young learners to engage with the natural world helps them build respect for themselves, others, and the environment around us.
We believe you don’t have to be “outdoorsy” to value nature-based education for your children or students. Many teachers, childcare providers, and parents are held back by the narrative that nature-based learning should look a certain way or feel that they don’t have enough knowledge, experience, or information to incorporate this approach to education. We work to empower everyone who guides children through their early years to take them outside and put nature at the heart of learning!
“All children need nature. Not just the ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not only those children of a certain economic class or culture or set of abilities. Every child.” -Richard Louv
Our mission is to provide resources that create pathways to early childhood nature-based learning. We believe that all young children should have access to play and authentic inquiry in nature. Allowing young learners to engage with the natural world helps them build respect for themselves, others, and the environment around us.
We believe you don’t have to be “outdoorsy” to value nature-based education for your children or students. Many teachers, childcare providers, and parents are held back by the narrative that nature-based learning should look a certain way or feel that they don’t have enough knowledge, experience, or information to incorporate this approach to education. We work to empower everyone who guides children through their early years to take them outside and put nature at the heart of learning!
“All children need nature. Not just the ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not only those children of a certain economic class or culture or set of abilities. Every child.” -Richard Louv
What is Nature-Based Learning?
Nature-Based Learning is an approach to education wherein nature is valued as both a space and tool for interdisciplinary learning. The core values of nature-based learning are centered around child-led inquiry and an emergent style of learning wherein curriculum flows alongside the seasons.
"Our lives as human beings have changed, but the developmental needs of kids have not. Whereas children used to play outside after school, all evening, and all summer long, schedules and busy lives have taken over. Modern life is what it is. Why not allow children to have these experiences while at school and have those needs met the way we did?"
- Erin Kenny, Founder of Cedarsong Nature School
- Erin Kenny, Founder of Cedarsong Nature School
Why Nature-Based Learning?
The joy. The intentionality. The freedom.
There are infinite opportunities to wonder, inquire about, and interact with nature. The growing body of research relating to nature-based learning greatly supports the integration of nature into early childhood education and its profound impact on cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
Nature-based learning lays the groundwork for building a solid foundation of development of social and emotional skills; skills that are essential for children to become successful learners throughout their lives. In the outdoors, children learn to communicate, negotiate, problem solve, and collaborate as they play and explore the natural world. They develop empathy and respect for other living things and gain a sense of stewardship towards the environment.
But don't take my word for it....
"It was the best to be outside with my friends. We went on lots of hikes and found worms and bugs and creatures. Me and my friends cooked in the mud kitchen. It was fun to cook food on the campfire too. And the chickens were so cute."
- Remy, attended Wandering Roots Nature School
"I loved being able to go outside a lot. We cooked outside and learned without books, paper, and pencils."
- Eli, attended Duluth Forest Kinderhaus
"I loved playing in the hammocks, walking in the woods, going on field trips, and seeing a lot of animals! Being outside with my friends and sledding were the best!"
- Hannah and Thomas, attended Duluth Forest Kinderhaus
There are infinite opportunities to wonder, inquire about, and interact with nature. The growing body of research relating to nature-based learning greatly supports the integration of nature into early childhood education and its profound impact on cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
Nature-based learning lays the groundwork for building a solid foundation of development of social and emotional skills; skills that are essential for children to become successful learners throughout their lives. In the outdoors, children learn to communicate, negotiate, problem solve, and collaborate as they play and explore the natural world. They develop empathy and respect for other living things and gain a sense of stewardship towards the environment.
But don't take my word for it....
"It was the best to be outside with my friends. We went on lots of hikes and found worms and bugs and creatures. Me and my friends cooked in the mud kitchen. It was fun to cook food on the campfire too. And the chickens were so cute."
- Remy, attended Wandering Roots Nature School
"I loved being able to go outside a lot. We cooked outside and learned without books, paper, and pencils."
- Eli, attended Duluth Forest Kinderhaus
"I loved playing in the hammocks, walking in the woods, going on field trips, and seeing a lot of animals! Being outside with my friends and sledding were the best!"
- Hannah and Thomas, attended Duluth Forest Kinderhaus
